The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan Industrial Location Center (JILC) and the Japan Regional Development Corporation (JRDC) will join with the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Greater Washington Initiative to host a symposium on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 18th, 1997 to highlight expanding business opportunities in Japan.

U.S. and Japanese business leaders and government officials will brief participants on the latest business trends, success stories and opportunities in Japan's regional areas.

This symposium is offered free of charge, but registration is required. It will be held in cooperation with the World Bank at the Bank's Preston Auditorium, located at 1818 H Street, N.W. in Washington, D.C. Registration is from Noon - 1:00 p.m. and the symposium will be held from 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. It will be followed by a one-hour information and cocktail session until 6:30 P.M., when symposium participants can meet with JETRO senior trade/investment advisors and representatives from co-sponsoring organizations.

Officials representing JETRO, the U.S. Department of State and JILC will open the symposium proceedings. They will be followed by corporate leaders from Nissho Iwai American Corporation, Bell Atlantic, The Japan Development Bank, and Global Synergies, who will deliver keynote speeches to discuss their views about the increasing attractiveness of Japan's economy to U.S. companies, as well as business strategies for market entry, investment trends, and technology ventures. The first session will conclude with the presentation of JETRO's "1997 Export to Japan Excellence Award" to a small- to medium-sized U.S. company that has established a successful business in Japan.

The second session will feature panel discussions on:

o Deregulation and its impact on Japan's business environment;

o Myths and realities of Japanese business customs;

o Regional business opportunities; and a

o Case study about the Aichi prefecture.

Panelists include experts from Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), the Japan Regional Development Corporation and BDM International. Throughout the day, JETRO, The Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Greater Washington Initiative, and other co-sponsoring organizations will open information booths to introduce their services and programs.

The symposium will conclude with a one hour information session and cocktail hour where representatives from JETRO, JILC, JRDC, The Japan Development Bank, Aichi, Miyagi and Kagawa prefectures and other co-sponsoring organizations will be on hand to meet with symposium participants.

Kazunori Iizuka, president of JETRO New York noted "Japan is now implementing many structural reforms that are generating exciting opportunities for U.S. investors and business people. This symposium represents an excellent opportunity to familiarize U.S. executives with these rapid developments and the resulting market and social changes that are taking place."

Journalists, executives and other individuals interested in attending the "Business Opportunities in Japan Symposium", obtaining a copy of the symposium program or arranging a meeting with any of the speakers, delegates or officials who will be in attendance are asked to contact Keith W. Rabin of KWR International at tel: 212-799-4294, fax: 212-799-0517, e-mail: kwrintl@kwrintl.com.